Automatic musical instrument.



No. 700,78 Patented May 27', I902. E. DE KLEIST.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

' (Application filed July 8, 1901.

2 Shad -Sheet l.

(No Model.)

I P Q Ur L! g No. 700,7 8l. Patented May 27, I902.

E. DE KLEIST.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed July 8, 1901.) (No Modal.)' 2 sheets-sheet 2;

I @4006 06c Wjvewb 1" UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE DE KLEIST, OF NORTH TONAVVANDA, NEWT YORK.

AUTOMATIC MUSlCALiNSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,781, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed July 8, 1901. Serial No. 67,420. (No model.)

To (LZZ 1077/0727, it Wtay concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE DE KLEIST, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This-invention relates more particularly to the so-called self-players, which are adapted to be applied to an ordinary piano and which comprise, essentially, a cabinet or casing containing a main bellows and pedals for pumping the same, a series of fingers or levers mounted on the casing and adapted to strike the ordinary piano-keys, a pneumaticaction controlling the movement of said fingers, and a perforated music-sheet,wliicl1 controls the pneumatic-action.

One of the objects of my invention is to reduce the waste or leakage of air to a minimum, so as to require less power and enable the operator to pump the main bellowswith correspondingly less exertion.

The invention has the further objects to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of the pneumatic-action, to render the action compact, easy of assemblage, and ready of access, and to render the valve-operating devices direct in action and free from restraint by other parts in order to insure aprompt and sensitive response of the pneumatic-action and cause the instrument to execute rapid as well as slow passages of music with precision and clearness.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section of a self-player embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section similar to Fig. 1, showing a different position of the valve mechanism. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the shifting device for raising and lowering the fingers of the self-player. Fig. 4 is a Vertical longitudinal section in line i 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section in line 5 5, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is the keyboard-frame 'of an ordinary piano, and A A are the keys.

is the upper portion of the cabinet or casing of my improved self-player, which is independent of the piano and adapted to be placed immediately in front of the piano-keyboard.

C represents the vertically-swinging fingers or levers of the self-player, which correspond in number to the piano-keys and stand above the latter when the cabinet is placed in position before the piano in a well-known manner. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings the fingers O are mounted upon a transverse horizontal plate C, which is hinged or pivoted at its front edge to standards'C rising from the top of the cabinet 13, as shown at c. This construction permits the free rear portion of the plate 0' to be raised to allow the fingers to clear the piano-keys in moving the cabinet up to the piano and then lowered to bring the fingersin close proximity to the keys.

C represents springs bearing against the under side of the plate'C near opposite ends thereof and serving to hold the plate in its elevated position, in which the fingers are supported above the level of the piano-keyboard. The plate is held down in its normal position (shown'in Fig. 1) by a locking device'of any suitable construction, that illustrated in the drawings consisting of vertically-swinging hooks D, pivoted to opposite ends of the cabinet at d and arranged to engage with pins d, projecting horizontally from the ends of the plate 0 so that upon swinging said hooks forwardly they engage with the pins 61, depressing the plate and holding it in its lowered position. The hooks D are operated by rods 61 guided in lugs d of the standards 0 and terminating in knobs or buttons, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

F. is a wind or exhaust chest arranged in the cabinet B, and E an exhaust channel or duct leadingto a bellows or other well-known exhaust device, which is not shown in the drawings and which may be operated by pedals or any other suitable means. Within this wind-chest are located the motor-pneumat-ice or small bellows F, which operate the fingers C. These pneumatics are arranged in several horizontal rows or tiers and supported on shelves or boards G, extending from end to end of the wind-chest. The upper movable boards of the pneumatics are pro- 2 too,

vided with extensions, upon which rest the lower ends of Vertical rods or stickers 72, which extend through the deck of the windchest and are arranged to hear at their upper ends against vertically-adjustable buttons 72 carried by the front arms of the fingers 0. As shown in Fig. 4, the pneumatics F in the several tiers are arranged in stepped order to allow the stickers of the pneumatios in the lower tiers to clear the pneumatics in the upper tiers, and the shelves G terminate short of the front wall of the wind-chest to leave the necessary space for the stickers 7b and other parts. To effectually prevent leakage of air through the openings H, through which the stickers pass, each of these openings is sealed, preferably at its inner end, by a collapsible stuffing-box 7L2. This stuffingbox consists of a flexible or bellows-like tube having its upper end tightly secured in a recess in the deck of the wind-chest by a washer 7L3 and provided at its lower end with a head 7L", which is firmly secured to the corresponding sticker. The joints between the flexible tube 7L2 and the deck of the wind-chest and between the sticker and the head 71/ are made air-tight, thus reliably sealing the stickeropening formed in the deck. As the sealingtube 71, is flexible, it freely collapses and expands as the sticker rises and falls. If desired, each sticker may be provided in addition to this sealing-tube with the usual valve h, which closes the upper end of the stickeropening H when the sticker descends.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shelves or boards G are provided underneath each motor-pneumatic F with a horizontal channel or passage t, with which the corresponding pneumatic connects by one or more ducts '1). The horizontal channels t'exten d throughout the width of the shelves G and through the rear wall of the wind-chest, said wall being provided on its outer side with horizontal strips i having openings t, which coincide with the channels i. To the front end of each of these channels a valve 7 is applied, which is secured to a horizontal rodj. The rods j pass lengthwise through the channels t' and are guided near their front ends in brackets or supports j and near their rear ends in horizontalbars 7 extending across the rear portion of the channels, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The rear portion of the valve-rod 7" preferably consists of a stem which is screwed into the end of the rod or otherwise made longitudinally adjustable thereon.

7.: represents rearwardly-opening valves applied to the rear ends of the air-channels and controlling the admission of the atmosphere thereto. The valve-rods] are of such a length that when the front valves j are closed the rear valves 7t are opened, while when the rods are moved forward for opening the front valves the rear valves are allowed to close. The screw-stemsj permit of a ready and ac curate adjustment of the valve-rods for this bears loosely against a flexible diaphragm or pneumatic I, which forms the rear wall of an air-chamber If. This diaphragm is attached at its edge to a ring IF, which forms the sides of said air-chamber, and this ring is in turn secured to the front wall of the wind-chest, which wall forms the front wall of said airchamber. Each of the air-chambers Z communicates with the wind-chest by a small port or duct 75. The air-chambers 7/ are respectively connected by horizontal channels m with the ducts m of a tracker M, over which the usual perforated music-sheet N travels. The music-sheet is wound upon rollers o in the customary manner and may be driven by a motor of any suitable construction or by other means.

In the operation of my improved pneumaticaction when a duct of the tracker is covered by an imperforate portion of the music-sheet the air is exhausted from said duct, the diaphragm of the corresponding air-chamber is collapsed, and the corresponding valve-rod 7" occupies its forward position. In this position the front valve j, which controls the inner end of the companion channel 71, is open and the corresponding outer valve 7c, which controls the outer end of said channel, is closed, as shown in connection with the lower pneumatics in Fig. 1, thereby excluding the atmosphere from said channel. The inner valve j is held in its open position by the closed outer valve 7c, which latter remains closed, owing to the rarelication of the air in the channel 11 and the atmospheric pressure against said outer valve. As the corresponding motor-pneumatic F communicates with the wind-chest under these conditions the same is collapsed, allowing the corresponding sticker 72, and the front end of the com panion finger O to descend and the rear end of the finger to rise with the corresponding piano-key. W'hen a perforation of the music sheet comes into register with a duct of the tracker, the atmosphere enters the duct and the corresponding air-chamber Z and expands or reverses its diaphragm Z rearwardly, as shown in connection with the uppermost pneumatic in Fig. 1, thereby shifting the corresponding valve-rod j in the same direction, closing the front valve 7', and opening the rear valve 75. The corresponding pneumatic is now shut off from the influence of the wind or exhaust chest and the atmosphere rushes through the open rear end of the channel 1 enters the pneumatic through the ducts t", and expands the latter, thereby quickly lifting the corresponding sticker 7:, rocking the companion finger G, and causing the latter to depress the corresponding key of the piano. As soon as the said tracker-duct is again closed by the music-sheet the airin the same is exhausted through the small port Z. The resistance being new removed from the front side of the diaphragm Z, the atmospheric pressure in the channel 1. opens the front valve purpose. The front end of each val vc-rod 7, thereby shifting the valve-rod forwardly and collapsing the diaphragm. As soon as the front valve j opens the air is exhausted from the channel 2' and the outer valve 7; is closed by the atmosphere. The air is now again exhausted from the expanded motorpneumatic, collapsing it and allowing the depressed finger C to ascend to its former position.

The outer inlet-valves k are wholly disconnected from the rest of the pneumaticaction, and therefore not liable to be retarded by any other part, insuring a prompt and sensitive action of the same.

By arranging the valve-rodsj' and the channelst'parallelwith the horizontal pneumatics the parts are rendered very compact, while the channels are straight and direct and can be cheaply formed by straight horizontal borings extending from front to'rear of the boards G and by vertical borings extending through the top of said board into the horizontal channels. This greatly simplifies the construction of the pneumatic-action and materially reduces its cost.

The front wall or plate E of the wind-chest is preferably made removable, and the diaphragms l are carried by said plate and disconnected from the valve-rods j. By this construction convenient access can be had to the diaphragms, the front valvesj, and the motor-pneumatics upon removing the front plate. This construction also permits the parts to be conveniently assembled. As no leakage of air can take place through the sticker openings H of the windchest, the power of the main exhaust-bellows is fully and effectively utilized, enabling the usual bellows-pedals to be operated with less exertion.

While I have herein shown my improvements as applied to a self-player or separate attachment for automatically playing a piano or similar musical instrument, the same are also applicable to automatic pianos or combined manual and automatic pianos.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a wind chest having an opening, of a sound-controlling member, a pneumatic communicating with said wind-chest, a sticker operated by said pneuw matic and passing through the opening of the wind-chest, and a collapsible seal applied to said opening and consisting of a tube having transverse bellows folds, said tube being secured at one end to the wind-chest and provided at its other end with a closed head which is secured to said sticker, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a wind-chest and a movable sound-controlling member,of a motor-pneumatic for said member arranged in the wind-chest, an air-channel arranged parallel with said pneumatic, communicating with the latter and opening at its inner end into the wind-chest and at its outer end into the atmosphere, oppositely-opening valves applied to the inner and outer ends of said channel, a valve-rod movable lengthwise in said channel and arranged to open said valves alternately, and an actuating device for said rod, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a wind-chest and a movable sound-controlling member, of a motor-pneumatic for said member arranged in the wind-chest, an air-channel arranged parallel with said pneumatic, communicating with the latter and opening at its inner end into the wind-chest and at its outer end into the atmosphere, a valve controlling the outer end of said channel, a valve-rod extending lengthwise through said channel and arranged to engage said valve for opening it, a second valve controlling the inner end of said channel and carried by said rod, and an actuating device for said valve-rod, substantially as set forth.

et. The combination with a wind-chest and a movable sound-controlling member, of a motor-pneumatic for said member arranged in the wind-chest, an air-channel arranged parallel with said pneumatic, communicating with the latter and opening at its inner end into the wind-chest and at its outer end into the atmosphere, a valve controlling the outer end of said channel, a valve-rod extending lengthwise through said channel and arranged to engage said valve for opening it, a second valve controlling the inner end of said channel and carried by said rod an air-chamber having a flexible diaphragm arranged to engage said valve-rod, and a tracker having a duct leading to said air-chamber, substan tially as set forth.

5. The combination with a wind-chest and a movable sound-controlling member, of a motor-pneumatic arranged horizontally in said chest, an air-channel arranged lengthwise on the under side of said pneumatic and provided in its upper side with a duct leading into the pneumatic, the inner end of said channel opening into said wind-chest and its outer end opening into the atmosphere, oppositelyopening valves applied to the ends of said channel, a sliding valve-rod arranged lengthwise in said channel, carrying the inner valve of the channel and arranged to open the outer valve thereof when the inner valve is closed, an air-chamber having a flexible diaphragm arranged to engage said "alve-rod, and a tracker having a duct leading to said airchamber, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a Wind-chest and a movable sound-controlling member, of amotor-pneumatic for said member arranged in the wind-chest, an air-channel communicating with said pneumatic and opening at its inner end into said chest and at its outer end into the atmosphere, oppositely opening valves applied to the ends ofsaid channel, a valve-rod movable lengthwise in said channel, carrying the inner valve of the channel and provided at its outer end with an adjustable stem arranged to bear against the outer valve of said channel, and an actuating de valves arranged in each channel and extending beyond the front end thereof, and airchainbers carried by the removable front plate of the Wind-chest and provided with flexible diaphragrns which are arranged to operate said valve-rods, substantially as set forth.

lVitness my hand this 22d day of May, 1901.

EUGENE DE KLEIST.

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, TI-IEO. L. PoPP. 

